NO MORE QUEUEING. Davao City Councilor Joanne M. Bonguyan-Quilos, committee chairperson for information and technology says the proposed electronic or Online Payment System ordinance of Davao City will be the answer to the taxpayers’ problems on long queues. (Robby Joy D. Salveron/davaotoday.com)
DAVAO CITY, Philippines –The long struggle of business owners and taxpayers for waiting in long lines while transacting in the City Treasurer’s Office would soon be over if the online payment system pushes through.
A city official said with the proposed Electronic or Online Payment System ordinance of the city, payers do not have to wait for hours to pay for government expenses.
Council Committee Chairperson for Information and Technology Councilor Joanne M. Bonguyan-Quilos told reporters during the “Pulong-Pulong ni Pulong” press conference on Tuesday, August 1, the proposed ordinance is seen as the solution to the problem of “queueing” in the city treasurer’s office.
“Physically makita mo naman kung gaano kataas ang queue sa city treasurer’s office and I think this will be the answer sa long problem sa business tax,” Bonguyan-Quilos said.
Apart from the long queues, as stated in the committee report, the online payment system is also aimed to “reduce red tape, expedite transactions in government and provide convenience to taxpayers.”
The proposed system will enable taxpayers to undergo the process of paying online wherein they will be given a temporary receipt to be presented in the CTO for verification and validation.
Bonguyan-Quilos said the manual receipt provided by the CTO will still be the official receipt since the Business Bureau requires for the manual receipt before the issuance of a logo.
“The process is from the payment online, you present the receipt to the City Treasurer’s Office and then they will issue the manual receipt,” Bonguyan-Quilos said.
She also mentioned that what the payers need to have is either a phone or a computer connected online to transact their payment.
“The City Information and Technology Center (CIPC) has built the infrastructure in partnership with the Landbank all you have to have is the cellphone and computer and you can pay your obligation in the government thru online,” the councillor added.
According to the committee report, if the council approves the ordinance, the implementation will be set to three phases.
The first phase will solely cater business taxes and payment for business and occupancy permits as these are considered to be “the most hectic payment in the city.”
The second phase will include real property tax and other payables.
Bonguyan-Quilos stressed that the ordinance also aims to entice investors here in the city as it offers the “ease of doing business” given that business transactions are accessible and convenient.
“The purpose is to invite all the investors and entice them to venture here in Davao City because we make everything here accessible and convenient for all business owners,” Bonguyan-Quilos.
Once the ordinance is implemented, Bonguyan-Quilos said people can still pay manually to the CTO but this will serve as a second option.(davaotoday.com)
